Return to Article: House backs 3.5 percent civilian pay raise
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38458
Since Bush has been in office, the staffing of our agency has continued to decrease in an era that demand for our services have increased. We are to the point where we are unable to deliver sevices to the American People who pay for these domestic services.
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35849
Yet another insult to the federal employees. Every year we get further behind in buying power while being expected to work harder and more efficiently. I am a professional and have pride in my work, but it it getting harder to put in the extra effort the government is requiring while at the same time they are taking money out of my pocket. The last two years' pay "raises" resulted in a smaller take home for me because of higher taxes and insurance rates. That does not even account for the increased cost of everything because of this administration's blunders like taking all the corn out of the feed cycle to make ethanol without decreasing the subsidies paid to farmers to leave fields unplanted. The math didn't work on that one, did it? It is time for congress to quit using the federal employees as budget levers and pay us a fair salary, every year.
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33661
I served the "box" as a civilian. Security went to extraordinary measures to protect GS civlians. I did see where one GS 13 Navy employee was killed by a mortar attack at the palace in the green zone a year or two back, and that was reported. There may have been more that I don't know about, but I would say the numbers are very low.
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28366
There are Civilians (GS Employees) serving in the "BOX". Although Civilian (GS Employee) casualties are not reported I'm sure they have occurred in such a HOT zone. Just because such things haven't been reported doesn't mean they haven't happend. History has taught us that.
This is not to say that I do not agree that those serving on active duty deserve more pay. As a Veteran I understand, as other Vets do, that those in uniform deserve our respect, admoration and much more than we the citizens of teh United States can ever repay to them and their families. I just feel that one set of concerns should not cancel out others.
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28242
You talk about fair practice between the private sector and the federal gov. Well, is it fair that the federal employee pay for natural disasters with their cost of living and the private sector doesn't? Why do we need to take less pay and the president, and legislation officials live high on the hog!! I'm tired of food, gas, healthcare, and everything else increasing except my pay!
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27724
The cost of living pay adjustment for federal government employees in the Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington, DC area is not adequate to cover the huge disparity in cost of living in said area. In essence, one takes a pay cut to work in that area as a result. I fear the government will be hesitant to resolve this glaring problem, because the large number of federal employees in that would result in huge cost for such a change.
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27652
I don't hear of GS-14's getting killed in the war. I do know the LT COL who died 6/15 in the F-16 crash in Iraq. He wasn't paid enough.
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27596
It's curious the administration opposes equal pay adjustments with the military, who receive 1/3 of their monthly income free of federal, state, and soc. security taxes. Under present civilian-military pay schemes, annual equal pay adjustments are inherently unequal. The result is that, on an after tax basis, Army captains net more income than mid-level GS-14s, and lieut. colonels net as much as SES.
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27325
I don't think the GS scale and associated raises are even fine for a clerk. These raises aren't huge leaps especially if you aren't making that much to begin with. I think the scale for administrative personnel needs to be reviewed. We do a lot of work and truly are a significant factor in keeping the office running properly.
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27279
I applaud the house's attempt to ensure civil servants get a 3.5% across the board pay raise. The "pay for performance" system so highly supported by the president works only in theory and not in application. "Pay for favorites" would be a more fitting title and is the worst DOD personnel change in the last 25 years.
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27255
I could not agree more with a previous posting that states the GS-Scale and its annual associated raises are fine if you are a clerk but insufficient if you are a professional in federal service.
I regularly study the differences between private and public sector positions analagous to the position I occupy. The average annual wage difference is approximately twenty to thirty thousand a year. Even the benefits gap, once a key selling point for federal employment, has significantly narrowed. Once again, these issues are confined to professional positions at the GS-11 grade or higher (for the most part).
The federal government needs to address these issues quickly, as the GAO repeatedly warned. Everyday I search USA jobs. The openings for my specialty grows by leaps and bounds, all with paid moves and incentives.
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27250
Colleen Kelly lobbying for pay parity between members of the military and civilians? Thats just insane. You really can't compare the two. Here is an idea, why don't we use the consumer price index (CPI) thats figured up by the US Department of Labor as the base amount for an annual increase? Isn't it supposed to conceptually measure the cost of living?
Hopefully the RUS won't get screwed again, and we will get our full fair share.
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27213
the white house need to look how the congress of the u.s. gets its pay raise. I think it is shameful that the members of congress don't have to vote on the pay raise.
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27149
3.5% is at least a step in the right direction. (hopefully it will stand) As stated in other comments this is to cover our increasing costs, not to be mistaken as an award. I've been a Civil Servant for about 15 years. I love what I do but it's getting harder and harder to pass up offers from the civilian sector. Trust me, they are looking at the government employee too. They know what return they will get on their investment. Unfortunately we are limited in our bonus structure due to the lack of civ pay dollars. Many of my friends who are professionals in the civilian sector are receiving annual awards that far exceed the 1.5% we are authorized. When trying to keep the hard working dedicated professional you should start looking at what some of the major companies are offering as incentive packages.
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27125
When inflation rates are at 5% annually, a 3.5% does not even cover the basics. How about a REAL cost of living - 5% plus the 3.5% - that would be more realistic.
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27115
Leaving in droves??? Every time I see a job posting there are hundreds applying, si its not the money. The problem is the outdated jobs program called civil service and its hiring practices. Yesterdays article in the govex was a perfect example. Border Patrol is hiring but only blacks, natives and women that's why it takes so long to fill a position
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27105
Thank you House; hopefully, you and the Senate will ensure that your own watchdogs in the GAO--a legislative branch support agency--receive full COLAs as well. For the last two years (CY2006 & CY2007), many GAO staff have been denied COLAs; and the rest of the GAO staff have received "diet" COLAs (COLAs lower than the % provided to other federal workers). The lack of pay fairness & justice at GAO has been a prime reason for the GAO union organizing effort.
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27093
Lil notes: "when the 3.5 is given, it is then taken away in taxes, Health and everyday livin expenses, therefore you are right back where you started." yes, by definition a cost of living adjustment is meant to address the need for paying for increases in taxes, health and everyday expenses, not to serve as a merit increase or an award. The annual COLA needs to be 100% de-linked from performance-based pay increases.
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27084
I came from a consulting engineering firm where I regularly recieved raises (combined cost of living and performance) in the 5+% range.
I took a pay cut to come to civil service because it was "better".
I'm ready to go back. The reduced pay, insufficient staffing, increasing workload and reduced funding doesn't seem worth it to me. GS pay is great if you are a clerk, but as a professional, the scale lags.
I say 3.5% or more for the next several years if you want to keep any young, motivated professional employees.
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27081
when the 3.5 is given, it is then taken away in taxes, Health and everyday livin expenses, therefore you are right back where you started.
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27080
Performance based pay increase should be the only way......I've worked as a civil service worker and as a contractor, all too often witnessing gov't workers who do not hold up their end of the workload and/or have little to do or do little for the wages they earn...and I'm not talking executive level. They know it's hard to get fired, and those that can fire them, give up trying.
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27075
We are constantly losing our technicians who want to move on to easier and better paying positions than the ones in the claims adjudicating and processing positions. If you want well qualified people in a position, you have to pay the price.
"The laborer is worthy of his hire."
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27072
Each year the House proposes, debates, and allocates a pay raise for military and civil service employees. Much is written, many meetings are held, and the raise usually gets cut down from its' original proposed amount somewhere in that process. However, without any vote, debate nor meetings the House gives themselves an automatic pay raise every year. This years will be $4,400...a far cry from what the soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will get. As long as there is one soldier, sailor, airman or marine getting food stamps to provide for his family no congressperson nor senator should ever even consider giving themselves a pay raise. That is just another reason that their approval rating is so low.
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27071
Thank you House and Union. The White House needs to get a grip on the price of oil and contractors that are stealing from the Gov. and the US Citizen's. The best way to get better employees is better pay and to simplify the hiring process.
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27065
Is the Bush Administration sleeping!?!?! If not, the Bush Admin needs to get out more. The 3.5% raise is attractive and it will help with both retention and recruitment. Federal/DoD employees are leaving in droves and many vacancies remain open with no promise of being filled soon. The Federal/DoD Human Capital dilemma is reaching a critical stage and the additional .5% is only a meager step to helping address this issue.
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27060
It is long over due, a 3.5% COLA. Lets hope that it is not whittled down or manipulated so that the rest of US (RUS) receives too little as usual. A few more years of COLAs more in line with high increases in living expenses would help civil servants greatly. Keep up the good work - Congress!
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27058
If Bush got paid for his performance, he would owe the country billions.
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27057
The House did the right thing. Apparently the administration considers $600 million a lot of money when it's being paid to dedicated members of the federal workforce, yet continues to waste much bigger sums on contractors, some of whom we're told are moving out of the country to avoid paying US taxes.
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